In the best year for the freight transportation industry since the Great Recession, logistics managers chalk up efficiencies that drive further U.S. economic growth. However, capacity issues persist, causing shippers to worry about rate hikes as carriers continue to be meticulous in their partnerships.

Does your organization struggle with the integration of information between your internal systems, processes and partner portals? You're not alone! Kapow Software alongside EFT has surveyed over 200 organizations regarding the importance of information access, visibility and discusses some of the major goals for supply chain and logistics organizations.

During this webcast we'll explore how supply chain execution convergence (SCEC) helps break down the barriers resulting from disparate, fragmented technology solutions allowing you to more effectively serve customers, adapt to changing business cycles, and save both money and resources.

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Friday, June 01, 2012

With the ongoing consolidation of air carriers, shippers are growing concerned about losing old relationships while having to forge new ones. Fortunately, freight intermediaries are helping them stay on course.

The market’s top analysts discuss the trends that are pushing mobility deeper into every-day use and explain just how far we are from realizing real-time supply chain management—complete with logistics visibility that was once only the stuff of dreams.

Today’s warehouse management systems (WMS) come with sophisticated rules and logic, real-time seamless integration to aligned business applications, and effortless interfaces to automated equipment and mobile technology. But why are we still not putting these capabilities to work?

Forward logistics is the primary focus for shippers of all commodities, but fine-tuning the “reverse loop” is becoming more urgent. As high-end companies develop new revenue streams, reverse logistics and after sales services are proving to be valuable tools.

A flurry of major service provider deals captured mainstream headlines in recent months, but the consequence of this activity has yet to be measured by domestic and international shippers. Meanwhile, the EU flounders, Asia remains strong, and emerging nations may represent the next great opportunity for the major 3PL players.

Truckload carriers are aiming for that “sweet spot” when the market hits supply and demand “equilibrium.” It’s close right now, but carrier executives fret that the hunt for drivers, rising fuel costs, and regulatory restraints make for a most uncertain future.

TSA officials said that this agreement will result in better communication sharing, stronger security, and more efficient air cargo transportation between the U.S. and the EU, which represents more then 1 million tons per year going to and from each continent and 20 percent of all EU outbound air cargo.

In every issue of Logistics Management (LM) we devote an article to the growing importance that warehouse and distribution center (DC) operations are playing in transportation and overall logistics management.